Del. Danny Marshall to retire after 24 years in Virginia House
Virginia Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election this fall, bringing an end to a 24-year career in the House of Delegates. While he did not provide a reason for his decision, Marshall, 73, emphasized that he will continue serving his district until his term concludes at the end of the year.
The Chatham Star-Tribune first reported the news Wednesday morning.
'I will still be your delegate until the end of the year, but I will not seek to have my name on the ballot in November,' Marshall, a businessman and former president of Marshall Concrete Inc., said in a statement. 'Our office will strive to help you, and I will still be working hard to bring economic development opportunities during this final year in office.'
Marshall, who has represented the 49th House District, which comprises Danville and parts of Halifax and Pittsylvania counties, since 2002, has built a reputation as a champion for economic development in Southside Virginia. His legislative work has focused on job creation, workforce development, and infrastructure projects aimed at revitalizing the region.
Among his early legislative achievements, Marshall highlighted his efforts to establish the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, a project that became his first bill in 2002. The following year, he worked to secure funding for IALR in the state budget.
'The Institute has been an invaluable catalyst for our economic revitalization in Southside Virginia, and I am proud to have helped get it off the ground,' Marshall said.
He also played a significant role in the Virginia Tobacco Commission, which allocates the state's proceeds from the National Tobacco Settlement to support economic development in rural communities. Marshall noted that the commission has helped create 'tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in Southside Virginia.'
A former Danville City Council member, Marshall has served on several key committees, including the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee, where he is vice-chair, and the House Appropriations Committee. He has also been active on the Virginia Housing Commission and the Manufacturing Development Commission.
Marshall's tenure in Richmond spanned more than two decades and 11 successful re-election campaigns. In his statement, he said he was always mindful of the trust his constituents placed in him.
'Each time I was humbled by the trust constituents had placed in me, and I never took it for granted,' he said. 'My energies were always directed towards what was best for my constituents — not what was best for my political party.'
Pittsylvania County Republican Committee Chairman Will Pace praised Marshall's contributions, particularly his focus on job creation.
'Delegate Marshall would say that the three most important issues that we face are 'jobs, jobs, jobs,'' Pace said. 'Throughout his tenure, Delegate Marshall has made it a goal to create the environment to provide more jobs in our area.'
Pace also acknowledged Marshall's role in major economic projects, including the Berry Hill Megasite, the Cane Creek Centre, and the IALR.
'A Republican will succeed Delegate Marshall when his term in office concludes, even though that Republican will have massive shoes to fill,' Pace said, adding that he expects Marshall to remain engaged in the community.
With Marshall's departure, the race to fill his seat will take shape in the coming months. A Republican primary is scheduled for June 17, with the general election to follow on Nov. 4. Democrat Gary Miller, a longtime city council member from Danville, has already announced his bid for Marshall's seat.
The 49th District leans Republican, handing the edge to the eventual GOP nominee.
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